Hydroponic Garden, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Wash.

Gonzaga University partners with local farmer to create indoor garden.

An empty expanse of dining hall windows inspired dining services at Gonzaga University to install a hydroponic garden. Chuck Faulkinberry, resident district manager for Zag Dining by Sodexo at the university, says the garden’s greenery is one way to battle against the gray Pacific Northwest skies.

“About a year ago we thought it would nice to bring in some greenery in the dining hall, as well as bring our campus garden inside,” Faulkinberry says. “We met with a local hydroponic farmer, and he partnered with us to get the garden up and running last summer.”

It was a decision that brought the duo recognition at Monday night’s MenuDirections 2015 awards ceremony in Memphis, Tenn., which is part of FoodService Director magazine’s annual conference geared towards foodservice operators and suppliers.